SAN JOSE -- Just prior to puck drop of Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Final, some tough news broke for the Sharks.
Per Czech TV station Nova Sport, San Jose forward Tomas Hertl -- who hasn’t played since Game 2 of this series -- is done for the remainder of the Stanley Cup Final with a knee injury.
Hertl, 22, was probably the best Shark not named Martin Jones through the opening two games. He scored a power play goal in Game 1 and his shots run iron three games in Game 2.
“He’s arguably been maybe our best player through the first two games,” San Jose head coach Peter DeBoer said on Saturday.
With Hertl out, the Sharks have bumped Melker Karlsson up to the top line next to Joe Thornton and Joe Pavelski, though Logan Couture also played there for a good stretch in Game 3.
Related: With Hertl out again, Sharks wary of loading up top line